Fuse-block.



N0. 648,7"). Patented May I, I900.

" G. C. QUELCH.

FUSE BLOCK.

(Application Med Oct. 10, 1899.)

(No Modem avwawboz UNLiTED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

GEORGE C. QUELCH, OF VINTONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FUSE BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,710, dated May 1, 1900. Application filed October Hi, 1899. Serial Kc. 733,176. No model-i T0 (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. QUELCH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Vintondale, in the county of Qanabria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse- Blocks, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fuse-blocks, and has for its primary object to construct a fuseblock in-which the disks ordinarily employed in connection with fuse-wires for securing the same in and the fuse-wires secured in position by the aid of a clamping-plate engaging directly upon the same.

The invention further aims to construct a fuse-block in which the fuse-wires may be more easily and quickly secured than is possible where it is necessary to employascrewdriver or other tool for fastening the fusewires by the aid of a screw or other fastening device.

A further object of the invention is to construct a fuse-block possessing the'above advantages and having means for separating the two fuse-wires in order that when the line is short-circuited and the fuse-wires burned out the spark from one wire will be prevented fronr reaching the other wire and the short circuit thus continued to the dynamo.

Briefly described, the invention consists of a base or bed block of suitable insulated material, which is adapted to be secured to the wall, ceiling, or other point either by screws or in any desired manner. This block has embedded therein the contact-plates, which are held in position by a screw inserted through the base of the block. These plates are provided with screw-threaded apertures to receive fastening-screws by means of which a clamping-plate is "secured on top of each of the embedded plates. This clamp- .ing-plate is provid'ed'with a depressible or spring-lip portion which is adapted to be depressed toward the embedded plate, so as to clamp the fuse-wire between the said two plates by means of a camplate pivotally mounted on one of the screws which fasten the clamping-plate in its position may be dispensed with.

moval.

position upon the embedded plate. The main wires and the local, house, or lamp wires are held securely between the embedded plates and the clamping-plates, thelatter being forced into firm engagement therewith by the fastening-screws.

These elements, which enter into the construction of my invention, together with such other novel features of construction as may be contained therein, will be hereinafter more particularly described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference will be employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimproved fuse-block, showing the main and local wires broken away, with one fuse-wire held in position and the other fuse-wire removed, the cam-plates being open to permit such re- Fig. 2 is a .ide view. Fig. 3 is .a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the insulated block with all plates removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectiona1 view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the clamping-plates. Fig. '7 is a similar view of one of the cam-plates. Fig. 8 is a like view of one of the embedded plates. 4

To put my invention into practice, I provide a base or bed block 1, composed of porcelain or other suitable insulated material, which may be of any desired shape or outline,though in the accompanying drawings forillustration I have shown the same in the shape'of a substantially-reetangularblock and provided centrally of its outer face with a ridge 2, extending horizontally with the block for its entire length. This ridge 2 is provided with as many apertures 3 as may be desired for the reception of screws for fastening the block in position, the apertures being preferably countersunk at the top of the ridge to allow of the head of the fastening-screws being upon a plane with or below the top face of said ridge.- T-his block 1 is provided on its outer face adjacent to the ridge 2 with recesses 4 4 4 4, havihg the same conformation of outline as the contact-plates 5, which they are adapted to receive. These plates are formed with the receiving-lips 6 and are held in position in the recesses by means of a screw 7 inserted through the opening 8 in the block 1 and engaging in the screw-threadcd aperture 9 in the plates 5. For convenience sake I preferably form this opening 8 larger in dimensions in the base of the block'than at the top or outer face oi the block, and the same terminates on the upper face of the block in an oblong slot 10 to receive the ends of the screws which hold the clamping-plates and the camplates in position. As these screws pass for a slight distance into the insulated block it would be necessary to have the apertures to receive the same in true registry with the screw-threaded apertures 11 in the plate 5; but by terminating the recess 8 in the oblong slot this fineness or exactness requiring skill to construct the block is obviated.

The recesses 4 are of slightly-greater width than the body portion of the plates 5, so that when these plates are in position a channel 12 will be provided between the outer edge of the plates and the outer wall of the recess, which channel is adapted to receivelhe downwardly-extending flange 14, formed integral with the clamping-plates 15. These clampingplatcs are each formed with a depressible or spring lip 16 and with openings 17, the latter being adapted to register with the screwthreaded openings 11 in the embedded plates 5 when the clamping-plates are'in position and are held by the fastening-screws 18. One of these fastening-screws 18 is adapted to have mounted thereon between'its head and the clamping-plate the securing device, which 1 herein term a F cain-plate,and consistihg of the body portion 19, having the aperture 20 near its one end to receive the fastening-screw and having its other end turned downwardly with the one edge curved to form the cam 21, adapted to engage with the beveled part 1 of the depressible or spring lip 16 and foreeth'e latter downwardly toward the lip 6 into engagement with the fuse-wire. This cam-plate is operated by means of an upwardly-extending lug 22 or thumb-piece, which may be formed integral therewith or secured thereto, as desired.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings I have shown the main or dynamo wires and the local lamp or house Wires connected to the fuseblock, the main wires 23 and the lampevires 24 being held between the clamping-plates 15 and the embedded plates 5. The formation of these plates 15 with the flange 14 and the provision for this flange in the channel 12 allows of the plate 5 being forced into engage ment with the embedded plates along their straight edge and the clamping of the wires near thellungc, as shown in Fig; 5 of the drawings, securely holding these wires in position. 'lhc fuse-wires 25 are shown in Fig. .1, one in position and on the other side removed, the cam plates being swung outwardly, so as to permit such removal of the fuse-wire.

case of short-circuiting the ridge 2 will prevent the spark from the one fuse-wire from reaching and establishing circuit with the spark of the other fuse-wire,which would dostroy the effectiveness and usefulness of the fuse-block.

While the construction as herein shown and described appears to embody the preferable form of my invention, yet I do not wish to unduly limit myself tothe construction herein shown, as it will be observed that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. In"a fuse-block, the combination with the base-block composed of insulating material provided with a longitudinally-extending ridge-on its one face, of the contact-blocks embedded in said base-block, clamping-plates mounted on said contact-plates, and camplates pivotally mounted on said clampingplates for depressing a portion of said clamping-plates and holding the fuse-wire between the said depressed portion and the contactplatos, substantially as described.

2. In a fuse-block, the combination with the base-block of insulating material, and the contact-plates embedded therein, of the clamping-plates mounted on said embedded contact plates and each provided with a spring-lip, and the cam-plates mounted on said clam pin g-plates and adapted to compress the lip portions thereof into engagement with the fuse-wire, substantially as described.

8. In a fuse-block, the combination, with the base-block composed of insulating material, of the contact-plates embedded therein, clamping-plates mounted on said contactplates, and cam-plates pivotally mounted on said clam ping-plates for depressing a. portion of said clamping-plates and holding the fusewire between the said depressed portion and the contact-plates,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE BLUvEur, WILLIAM A. QUELoH. 

